In Vineland, cruising Landis Avenue is both a local right of passage and an automotive tradition dating more than a half-century into the city's past.

In 1959, the Vineland Times Journal reported on the phenomenon, also known as "riding the Avenue" at the time.

"The cars start their monotonous journey between 7 and 8 o'clock every night," the paper stated. "They travel Landis Avenue to the circle and back again to Eighth Street or East Avenue. There are a few deviations, but this is the main route."

Johnny Colon of Vineland and Daniel Roman, 7, of Vineland check out the interior of this Cobra at the 23rd Annual Cruise Down Memory Lane car show on Landis Avenue on Saturday. Photo/Jodi Streahle Jodi Streahle

David Tovar, of San Antonio, Texas, takes a close look at a classic car at the 23rd annual Cruise Down Memory Lane car show on Saturday, June 14. The U.S. Army soldier is currently based at Fort Drum in New York. He drove down for the car show, an event that became a favorite activity for him when he was based at the U.S. Army Recruiting Station in Vineland. Photo/Jodi Streahle Jodi Streahle

Rodney Cerana of Franklinville and John Cerana of Vineland, right, were impressed by this Dodge Powerwagon that was on display at the Cruise Down Memory Lane car show. Photo/Jodi Streahle Jodi Streahle

The Cruise Down Memory Lane car show attracted nearly 2,000 entries. Thousands of people walked Landis Avenue to check out all the cars. The annual event was organized by Main Street Vineland, coordinated by the Cruise Down Memory Lane Committee and sponsored by Golden Corral. Photo/Jodi Streahle Jodi Streahle

The newspaper noted that most drivers were "not much older than 25" and would come all the way from Bridgeton, Millville, Hammonton, Clayton, and even as far as Salem. The average car was a "Ford or Chevrolet with about three occupants," the paper said.

Many drivers, utilizing "spinners or moons decorating the wheels and a noisy muffler" as standard equipment, also adhered to unwritten cruise codes

As an area car club member told The Daily Journal in 1995: "If you were driving with your headlights on, it meant you had a date. If you were driving with your parking lights on, you were looking for a date."

The Vineland Times Journal on Aug. 27, 1959, discussed how dating was part of the cruising ritual.

At the time, the local director of public safety pointed out, "it has degenerated to girls now picking up boys!"

It seems, you see, that back in the nifty '50s, local traffic authorities weren't quite as hospitable as those who now seal off the Avenue for the annual Cruise Down Memory Lane event.

As reported by the Times Journal in 1959, Vineland police objected to the cruising "fad." Threats were made to bring in those "riding the Avenue" on disorderly and loitering charges.

"For all we know, they (the cruisers) might be criminals planning to break into one of the stores," said one official who accused parents of "overindulging" their children by allowing them to drive expensive automobiles.

Yet the teens interviewed contended that there was nothing better to do at the time. The Avenue was simply a social center, they insisted.

"You ride the Avenue and after a few blocks you come across several people you know," said one 18-year-old cruiser. "A stop on the side for a short chat, and quickly you can decide on what to do that evening.